Magic Pumpkin Layer Cake is vanilla cake on the bottom with pumpkin pie filling layered on top and finished with cinnamon whipped topping.
THIS CAKE MAKES ITS OWN LAYERS!
I don't know about you but I'm ready for fall. Well, maybe not the shorter days that come with fall. I am a daytime, warm, sunshine-loving kinda gal. But I'm definitely ready for fall flavors. I love those fall smells of apples, cinnamon and clove (and of course, pumpkin.)
WHY IS IT CALLED MAGIC PUMPKIN CAKE?
Well, because you actually pour the cake batter in first and the pumpkin pie filling in second - but after it bakes - the pumpkin layer ends up on bottom and the cake layer on top. So obviously, no magic happpening here, it's just because the pumpkin layer weighs more than the cake layer so it sinks to the bottom of the baking dish. But baking it this way allows everything to cook evenly without any layer being under-done or overcooked.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- vanilla cake mix (plus ingredients needed to make cake: eggs, oil, water)*
- pumpkin pie mix*
- evaporated milk
- eggs
- instant vanilla pudding
- pumpkin pie spice (or MAKE YOUR OWN)
- cold milk
- whipped topping (COOL WHIP)
*Pumpkin Pie Mix Note: We're using pumpkin pie mix NOT canned pumpkin puree. Pumpkin Pie Mix already has the pumpkin and seasoning and sugar added to it. All you have to do is add the eggs and evaporated milk to it. I add additional pumpkin spice seasoning because we love it. Canned pumpkin is just plain pumpkin - we don't want that here.
HOW TO MAKE PUMPKIN LAYER CAKE:
Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Prepare cake mix according to package directions.
Pour cake batter into prepared baking dish (don't bake yet!) Keep the mixing bowl handy!
Now, prepare the pumpkin pie mix. Combine contents of can of pumpkin pie mix with eggs, evaporated milk and one teaspoon pumpkin pie spice. Stir well.
I just wipe out the same bowl I used for the cake batter and use that to mix the pumpkin pie filling. No need to make a bunch of dirty dishes!
Slowly pour the pumpkin pie mix right onto the cake batter.
Just drizzle it all around the entire cake.
Then put in the oven and bake for about 50-60 minutes. The cake will look a little darker than what we're used to. Don't worry - it will be fine. And fear not - there will be layers under there! Allow cake to cool completely - at least a couple of hours.
Once cake is cooled, begin making topping. Combine package of instant pudding with teaspoon pumpkin pie spice.
Next, pour in cold milk. Whisk mixture until pudding begins to thicken.
Gently fold in whipped topping.
Spread topping onto cooled cake. You can serve it immediately but I would recommend popping it in the fridge for at least an hour. This will help the topping setup a bit more and make it easier to slice (but it's not absolutely necessary.)
I added some cinnamon chips on top just to make it look pretty.
Slice up and serve! Keep refrigerated if not eating immediately. In addition, refrigerate any leftovers.
CRAVING MORE RECIPES?
MAGIC PUMPKIN LAYER CAKE
Ingredients
- 1 (15.25 oz) box vanilla cake mix
- ingredients needed to make cake mix: eggs, oil and water (use the amounts given on the back of the box)
- 1 (30 oz) can Pumpkin Pie Filling Mix
- 1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 (3.5 oz) box instant vanilla pudding
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice, divided use
- 1 cup cold milk
- 1 (8 oz) tub whipped topping thawed (COOL WHIP)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Spray a 9 x13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Prepare cake mix according to package directions (using eggs, oil & water).
- Pour cake batter into prepared baking dish (don't bake yet!)
- Combine contents of can of pumpkin pie mix with eggs and evaporated milk and one teaspoon pumpkin pie spice. Stir well.
- Slowly pour the pumpkin pie mix evenly right onto the cake batter (over the entire cake).
- Bake for about 50-60 minutes.
- The cake will look a little darker than what you're used to and that’s normal. (fear not - there will be layers under there!)
- Allow cake to cool completely - at least a couple of hours. Once cake is cooled, begin making topping.
- Combine package of instant pudding, pumpkin pie spice and cold milk. Whisk mixture until pudding begins to thicken.
- Then gently fold whipped topping into the pudding. Spread topping onto cooled cake.
- Cool cake in the refrigerator for about an hour before slicing and serving.
Video
Notes
- Optional: Sprinkle some mini cinnamon chips on top of finished cake. Keep refrigerated if not eating immediately.
- You can serve it immediately but I would recommend popping it in the fridge for at least an hour.
Nutrition
Originally published: August 2015
Updated & republished: November 2021
RECIPE INSPIRATION: I wash...you dry
Lindi
Oh My Gosh, this cake sounds Awesomely Amazing , one problem for me down here in Australia we don't have pumpkin of any kind in a can. Could you tell me what pumpkin pie filling has in it and I can hopefully make it , Thankyou Brandie.....
Janice Ackeret
I was going to say could I use pumpkin purée, instead of pumpkin pie filling?
Susan
Would this work making it into the large muffins? It looks yummy!
Tina
I did a Google search on the fly in the grocery store last night for a simple cake mix Blondie reciepe. I decided to try your Maple Butter Blondie reciepe and I am happy to report that my gang of desert snobs loved it! This was so much quicker than making everything from scratch and easier! I did tweak the sauce just a touch by adding 1/4 tsp of maple extract and 1/2 tsp of Brazilian Vanilla extract just to cover the evaporated milks flavor a bit. Thanks! It was great!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
You made my day Tina!! Love hearing that - THANK YOU!! 🙂
Irene Paylor
I just noticed that you used a vanilla cake mix...using yellow shouldn't make any difference should it?
Cherie
Can I make this ahead of time and FREEZE it until ready to serve by pulling out the day before serving ???? I want to serve this for Thanksgiving but we go on the road the day before thanksgiving
Ann
My layers didn't work quite right. It's more of a swirl in the middle with a big hole.
Rosa Hernandez
Yummylicious!! sorry 2 ask,The whole 30 oz. canned pumpkin mix is used !!?? 🙁
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Hi Rosa! Yes, the whole can of pumpkin pie filling is used 🙂 Hope you love it!
Datura
Hi guys, I would like to do it but in Belgium, I can't find many of these things, could you help me that, please? 🙂
sherry
I have made a similar cake that I got the recipe for from a lady at my church about 10 yrs ago, the only difference was she made her own whipped cream w/ heavy cream, vanilla, powdered sugar and pumpkin pie spice. I'm going to make this today because here in New England Fall is just starting to show and this cake will not only look beautiful but taste amazing! Thanks:-)
Harriet
Can you make this recipe gluten-free. Thanks
Linda Johnston
Well, here I go again!! These darn magic cakes get me every time!! Thanks. I know this will be a hugh hit.
bkwrm
Butterscotch would probably be good. I have a pumpkin cake recipe that includes chocolate chips. That is really good. It's a Bundt cake. I will post it sometime soon.
Anonymous
We don’t like the pre-spiced pumpkin pie filling and prefer to make our own spice mix. Is it OK to use plain pumpkin puree so it can spiced to our taste?
Anonymous
do you think you could use butterscotch chips instead of cinnamon?
granny k
You do not have to make a double pumpkin mix.... as it spreads
out to the entire pan.... looks great....
good to read the recipe a couple times and has
steps to recipe to form the layers....
a great recipe and pretty dessert.....
granny k
the MAGIC PUMPKIN CAKE CAN BE FROZEN .
I MADE ONE FOR A CHRISTMAS PARTY, AND THE LEFT OVER , I FROZE
TWO OR THREE PIECES IN A CONTAINERS AND NOW GREAT TO
THAW WHEN NEEDED.... STILL YUMMY.... TOOOO !
Unknown
This cake looks lovely. What do you think would happen if the pumpkin mixture were doubled? That way the entire cake would be covered with pumpkin mixture. The photo shows parts of the cake that weren't covered before baking. I was thinking of not using the entire doubled pumpkin mixture but just enough so that the entire pan would be covered. Or does the pumpkin spread out during baking so that you get a forkful in each bite? Thanks.
tammy
I am a little confused. You use the eggs that are called for by the cake mix box and then you add more eggs in your ingredients? Thank you in advance of responding to me.
Brandie (The Country Cook)
Hey there Tammy, you use eggs in the cake mix as well as the pumpkin mixture. So what ever your box cake calls for also allow for the 2 eggs for the pumpkin mixture. Hope that helps
bkwrm
Yes, you can freeze half. Then just make 1/2 of the topping just before serving.
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Anonymous - hmmm. I'm not exactly sure how you could cut it in half. I've been trying to think of how you could do it. I suppose you could make it then freeze half for later. I just don't know how well it would freeze but if you wrap it up good, it should work. I'm sorry I'm not more help on that!
Thanks SO much Joanne and Samantha! Be sure to let me know what you think about it!
Anonymous
Why not bake it in two 9 inch round pans and just wrap and freeze one for later?
Samantha Daniel
Oh my stars, that just looks way too good and way too easy not to make! Plus it looks pretty, I'm going to have to make it for my workplace potluck.
Joanne V
This looks better than a pumpkin pie, especially with the cinnamon chips sprinkled on top.
Anonymous
I enjoy your recipes - both reading and trying! Question about this one is: Can it be "downsized" for just 2 retired people? A cake this size would take us forever to eat, and I wouldn't want it to spoil. And we are surrounded by large families (5-7 peeps)on all sides, so sharing half a cake won't work either.
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Anonymous, I think if you stick with the kind I used in the above photo - you'll do great. I generally do not use pudding in the mix boxed cake mixes for anything other than when I am making just the cake. Hope that helps!
Anonymous
I never know what kind of cake mix to buy. Does it matter if I get a pudding-in-the-mix cake mix or should I stick with a conventional cake mix? Seems like recipes never make that distinction. Thanks.
Brandie @ The Country Cook
I would be honored Mary - thank you!
Mary | Deep South Dish
Oh my goodness Brandie, that looks amazing! I hope you don't mind if I share the link on my FB page next week. I just know that everybody will love it!!